Regards rape, sexual battery definition for parental rights law

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Allison Russo

The bill updates Ohio law to define rape and sexual battery for purposes of parental rights, guiding custody decisions in cases involving those offenses.

Referred to committee

#childcustodyandsupport #crimeandpunishment #crimes #corrections #andlawenforcement #domesticrelations #juvenileandfamilylaw

Summary of HB 914 (Ohio, 136th General Assembly)

Purpose and intent

The bill amends Ohio's Revised Code to redefine terms used in determining parental rights in the context of cases involving rape or sexual battery.

Specifically, it clarifies and codifies how rape and sexual battery are defined for purposes of parental rights statutes (sections 3109.501 to 3109.507).

Key provisions and changes

Revisions to Section 3109.50:

Defines “Parental rights” as the existing rights and responsibilities, parenting time, or any similar right concerning a child, excluding the parental duty of support.
Redefines “Rape” to mean a violation of Ohio Revised Code section 2907.02 or a violation under similar law in another state or foreign jurisdiction.
Redefines “Sexual battery” to mean a violation of Ohio Revised Code section 2907.03 if the sexual activity involved is sexual conduct, or a violation under a similar law in another state or foreign jurisdiction.

The existing Section 3109.50 is repealed and replaced with the updated definitions and scope.

The bill lists Rep. Allison Russo as a co-sponsor.

Who/what is affected

Individuals involved in proceedings concerning parental rights for a child, where the allegations or findings involve rape or sexual battery.

Courts and state agencies applying Ohio’s parental rights statutes (sections 3109.501–3109.507) will use the updated definitions of rape and sexual battery when determining parental rights and related issues.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill immediately repeals the current Section 3109.50 and enacts a revised version as part of its enactment.

It affects statutory interpretation going forward in relevant family-law proceedings within Ohio.

No explicit fiscal impact, implementation timeline, or rulemaking provisions are detailed in the text provided beyond the statutory reform.

Observations

The changes aim to align the definitions of rape and sexual battery with consistent terminology for purposes of evaluating parental rights, potentially influencing custody, visitation, or other parental responsibilities in cases involving such offenses.

By referencing “similar law of another state or a foreign jurisdiction,” the bill ensures cross-border consistency in recognizing these offenses for parental rights determinations.

If you’d like, I can compare these definitions to the current language in Ohio law or summarize potential scenarios in which this change could affect custody decisions.